Hosiery supporting means



March 9, 1948. E. J. YOUNG HOSIERY SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Sept. 17, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Eric J- Young.

ATTORNE S.

arch 9, 1948. YOUNG I 2,437,583

HOSIERY SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Sept. 17, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 9, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOSIERY SUPPORTING MEANS Eric J. Young, Jersey City, N. J.

Application September 17, 1945, Serial No. 616,676

10 Claims. (Cl. 2-309) This invention relates to improvements in hosiery supporting means.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of stocking supporting means which will maintain the stocking in comfortable nonwrinkled supported position upon the leg at all times.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved supporter for stockings adapted particularly for 'use in connection with the support of women's hosiery and of a nature to be used beneath the stocking for maintaining the stocking upon the leg in a non-wrinkle position at all times notwithstanding leg flexing.

It is well known that in cOnnection with stockings which'fit the leg to a point above the knee, flexing of the knee will cause stretching of the stocking and in the case of most types of hosiery supporters, the leg when returned to normal straight position will leave the stocking in a wrinkled condition adjacent the knee. It is the purpose of this invention to provide a stocking supporting means which will, under such circumstances, permit the stocking to resume a normal non-wrinkled appearance after bending of the knee; the same being of such nature that it will not act in a constricting manner upon the leg of the wearer nor unduly stretch and tension the stocking.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a view showing the position of the stocking supporter upon the leg of the wearer with the leg bent.

Figure 2 is a view showing the supporter with the leg returned to normal position and showing the manner in which the improved supporter will return the stocking to normal non-wrinkled position.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the improved supporter.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the supporter.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the improved supporter.

Figure 6 is an edge elevation of a portion of the supporter.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the portion of the supporter shown in Figure 6.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged cross sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines shownin Figure 3 of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown merely apreferred embodiment of the improved supporter, the letter A may generally designate the improved supporter. It includes upper and lower segmentalsh-aped portions 2|] and 2| adapted to each partially encircle the leg of the wearer; the same being connected at their ends by U-shaped similarly shaped pieces 23 and 24 having U-shaped connections 22 of spring steel or beryllium copper. These connections 22 position the pieces 23 and 24 in divergent relation and they are preferably embedded or otherwise secured to or in the members 20 and 2|. The connection 22 includes a segmental or other type of bight portion 26 which seats within an annular groove 21 of'leg gripping discs or members 28. These members 28 each include an outer convex relatively smooth face 29 and an inner fiat face 30 covered by fabric or some other material 3| which has a non-slip pile or roughened surface adapted to grip the leg of the wearer and remain in position against free sliding. The surface 30 may be of any shape desired altho it is preferably flat.

The members 20 and 2| may extend for any degree desired, preferably over and less than a complete 360 circle. They are each formed of a, body portion 40 of plastic or some resilient or springy material which will enable the extreme ends to be moved apart so that the supporter may be applied to the leg of the wearer. Referrlng to Figure 8 of the drawings, the cross sectional view of one member 20 will show that the body portion 40 has an inner concavo-convex smooth surface 45. The outer surface 46 of the body portion 40 is socketed to receive the piece 23 therein flush with the surface 46 as shown in Figure 8. Here it should be noted that the spring arms or pieces 23 and 2d are continued for the length of the members 20 and 2|, to give them the desired springiness, altho it is possible to form the complete body portion 40 of springy material and eliminate the necessity of carryingthe portions 23' and 24 completely around the members 20 and 2|. The outer surface of the member 40 of member 20 is straight line in cross section, as shown in Figure 8, and over this surfacing 46 there is disposed some non-slip material 46, such as fabric, with an appreciable pile surfacing, altho any material which will cause the stocking to grip the same and prevent undue slipping will sufiice.

The member 2| is similarly formed except in reverse, Thus, as shown in Figure 9, the body portion 40 of the member 2| has an outer convex cross section surface 55 and its inner surface is of straight line cross section and provided with a socket for receiving the spring arm portion 24. The inner straight line cross sectioned surface of the body of the member 2| is provided with some material 51, such as fabric, having an appr ia pile surfacinaor other, meanswhich. will enable the same-to grip thea-legof thewearer; and not easily slip therealong.

It will be noted from Figure 5 of the drawings and also Figures 1 and 2 that the member is struck from a greater radius thanthe member 2|, so as to enable the snug fitting. of, the nonslip surface of the member 2| about the legof the wearer and to enablethe inner=surface of the other member 20 to move through an are between the positions of its extreme movements as shown in Figures 1 and 2, without engaging. the leg: of; the; wearer, although: itis. perfectly possible; to make the: members: and 2lof; the same; diameter if the; in &r..s urf ace of.- eember. 2! i u cient1y smooth; t permi it. to slide, without undue friction or difif Qulty; along the legof'the wearer.

As a featureoi the inyention; it isto'be; noted: that the hosiery-supporter is; placedbeneath the stocking which it is intended, support and: upon the leg, of the wearer; Through; the con; necting ends 22 anddue to the, springinessofthe; portions thereof as app i dw the members, 20-and 2|, the discs28,may -be spread apartand the supporterplacedat the. desiredmosition'upon the leg. of the wearer. The stocking is; drawn over the-leg: of the wearer tothepositionshown in Figure2 and at which: time'thegripping; sur face of the material 50 of, the segmentalmember- 20. will engage the interior of; the stocking; and, hold the same from slipping down on. the, leg; of the wearer. If. the,leg of thewearer-is; flexed, to the position, shown, in, Figure- 1, dueto thenon-slip-engagement of the'member 20 withthestocking, a movement of, thestocking incident: to tension down over-the leg of, the, wearer will; cause the member 20 to move towards the; member 2| (which. gripsthe leg: of therwearer in non-sliding engagement), to the, position. shownin Figure l. When theleg is;unbent and straightenedv it will be.- noted that duetov the springiness of the members- 20- and fl the former will return to! its normal position. and; bring; the stocking back to normal position. During this, movement of the stocking along,- the leg of; thewearer it will slidefreely over, thesurfacing; 55 of the member 21-. It; will be notedfrom. this. that the stocking is; notv subject to, any undue tension, as will be, the caseiwith; suspendei type of supportersatt-achedtqgirdles; etc.

Various changes in; the, shape size and; an rangement of parts may be madeto; thewfonn'n of invention herein shown; and described w-it h. out departing from; the spirit ofi'theinvention; or the s-copeof the-following-cla'ims.

Iclaim: V

l. In a hosiery supporter the. combination of a segmental-shaped leg; gripping construction, a; segmental-shaped hosiery; gripping GOHSUI llQiElQIL, and means; resiliently connecting; said two; cone: structions so that, the stockingv gripping congstruction is. normally urged resiliently awaytfromv the leg gripplngconstruction, theouten surface: of the leg grippingconstruct-ion being smooth-,topermit a stocking to readily slide thereover the outersurface of, the hosiery-gripping construc- 4 tion being of a non-slip nature to contact with a non-slip engagement the stocking.

2. A hosiery supporter adapted to be applied upon the leg of a wearer above the knee to return the stocking on the leg of a wearer to normal position after bending of the knee comprising a leg gripping construction for engaging the leg of the wearer, and a hosiery gripping construction above the leg gripping, construction resiliently. and movably connected with respect to the leg gripping construction and normally urged away from the leg gripping construction.

3. In a hosiery supporter the combination of a .pair o f' resiliently connected segmental-shaped members, means at the ends of said members for gripping-the leg of a wearer, one of said members, on theinner surface having leg gripping means and the other member on the outer surface having non-slip stocking gripping means.

4. In a hosiery supporter the combination of a pair-of resiliently connected segmental shaped members, means at the ends of said; members stocking engaging member having. an external non-sliprstocking engagingv surface, and means eonnectingsaicl members at their ends so that said members. are normally urged away. from each other a predetermineddistance.

siblebody having. an inner leg gripping surface, a second, segmental-shaped, extensible resilient stocking engaging, member having an external nQn-slipstocking engaging surface, means con,-

nectingsaidmembersat their ends so that said members. are normally urged away from, each.

other a, predeterm'ined, distance, and, leg, gripping discs connected at the connected ends, of.

saidmembers.

7; Ina hosiery supporter adapted. to be used.

p n h le f aw er r. beneaththestockin for; holding the latter in position against wrinkling along; the legjof a wearer, the combination of a segmentahshaped leg, gripping member, a segmentahshaped;stocking gripping memc =ms O Decting sai members. at. heir, ends to normally urge them yieldably apart a predetermined distance, the latter segmentalthereof are concerned;

8. In, ahosiery supporter.- the combination of a segmental-shaped hosiery gripping member having an inner smooth surface and hosiery gripping means on its. outer, peripheral surface, and means for holding said member upon, the leg of the wearer with the segmental member arched about the leg of the wearer and in normally. spaced. relation with the-leg of thewearer.

9. In a hosiery supporter'the combination of a curved leg. gripping. band, a. second, curved hosiery gripping band, resilient means con necting said bandstogether so-that, throughthcir,

6.,In a. stockingsupporting means the. com bination; of a. segmental-shaped resilient exten shaped. mem r ing struck from, a ra us, greater than the radiusof the-first mentioned, segmental member insofar asthe inner surfaces,

major lengths they may axially move towards and away from each other.

10. In a hosiery supporter the combination of an arched leg gripping band, a second arched band means resiliently connecting said bands to- 5 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 798,400 Dorman Aug. 29, 1905 811,413 Kurtz Jan. 30, 1906 846,914 DeVries Mar. 12, 1907 968,857 Koneman Aug. 30, 1910 1,216,288 Davis Feb. 20, 1917 1,320,066 Ketch Oct. 28, 1919 2,102,561 Loeber Dec. 19, 1937 

